Lawmaker wants vet practices regulated

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has filed a proposed measure with the House of Representatives to regulate veterinary practices to protect pets against malpractice.

In House Bill 7896, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte seeks to institutionalize the “penalties of fine, cancellation of license to practice and revocation of permit to operate to veterinarians found committing veterinary malpractice.”

These penalties, which are absent in Republic Act (RA) 9268 or the Philippine Veterinary Medicine Act of 2004, are intended to “increase deterrence in committing” malpractices.

The bill, which shall be known as the Anti-Veterinary Malpractice Act of 2023, also proposes to require veterinarians to avail themselves of malpractice insurance for any claims of damages “arising from the act (commission) or omission perpetrated by them resulting in injury or loss of life to any animal.”

“The state recognizes the role of veterinary medicine in the country as a practice dedicated to the protection of the animal population through safe and proper diagnosis, treatment and surgery of these animals,” the measure stated.

According to Duterte, RA 9268 also institutionalized the mandate of the Professional Regulatory Board of Veterinary Medicine.

”And yet the practice remains unregulated and unbridled, resulting in a number of malpractice cases against veterinarians that remain unpenalized due to lack of an enabling legislation that will hold a veterinarian liable for gross negligence and ignorance in exercise of their profession,” he said.